Oh my god July feels so long ago. I could have sworn that like half of these were in the last post. Are you really just hearing about them now? (besides the ones seen in my Sad Songs Post, anyway) Man. It's shorter than the last two installments, thanks to a greatly restrained September.

For the awesome folks who have Spotify, I made you a nearly-complete playlist! For those of you who don't, largely unverified YouTube links. Which, FYI, way more effort required. Get Spotify by Christmas or I'll cut you off. *bats eyelashes innocently*

JulyKickin' things off with some country! (from here, where I technically approve everything except 2 and 19-20, but I had to set some limits). Most of these missed their shot in the summer of 2008 and are technically disqualified, but whatever, it was all I listened to for the first half of July. I've never loved them like I do now with the power of nostalgia and associated context.

102. Gary Allan - Watching AirplanesI'm just sittin' out here watching airplanesTake off and flyTrying to figure out which one you might be onAnd why you don't love me anymore

It is pretty rare that a country song – especially one by a dude – really snags my ear on the first listen for anything besides lyrics. But the music on this one was just like, HEY, RS, YOU WOULD ENJOY THIS. This is super helpful commentary, I know.

103. Lady Antebellum - Love Don't Live HereYou've got nerve to waltz right inAnd think what's mine is yours againHaving lifted my vendetta against them over “Need You Now” thanks to Glee, this is super catchy. They duet rather well. Very The Civil Wars, but faster tempo. There's energy behind this anger!

105. Luke Bryan - All My Friends SayYou know, I don't remember a thingBut they say I sure was raising some CainThis could not be more honkeytonk/redneck if it tried (edit: yes it could. There's a video). Brad Paisley sounds almost sophisticated next to this. Unfortunately, I started to find that hilarious after hearing it enough times while cleaning, and I cracked up upon rediscovering it.

106. Julianne Hough - That Song In My HeadI don't know who sings itI keep searching the radioIn sharp contrast, I love how there is practically a calypso vibe over the opening notes. Something upbeat, light and fun for the playlist.

107. Kenny Chesney – Don't BlinkJust like that, you're six years old and you take a napAnd you wake up and you're 25And your high school sweetheart becomes your wife

I definitely remember crying a time or two while listening to this, just because it is super easy to upset me by reminding me how fast time passes.

I don't remember why this one bothered me anymore. Neither the screaming nor the feedback sound is as loud or prominent as I remember, and I forgot how much I like their voices. And by forgot I mean I'm not sure I've ever heard the second one before.

I actually almost put this on last time because I like the really simple guitar arrangement. I don't know the song, but it's light and soft and relaxing. I especially love how their voices fall like a waterfall on the last line.

113. Glee Cast – Black or WhiteThey print my message in the Saturday SunI had to tell them I ain't second to none

And now that I'm not looking at stupid/horrifying morph technology, my ears are fully able to hear what a great song this is. Group numbers are really always the best, especially when they are uplifting like this. Every time the opening music starts I just get happy.

114. Glee Cast – We Got The BeatAll the kids just getting out of schoolThey can't wait to hang out and be coolI shunned it for excessive Santana. I keep forgetting how frequently I like Naya's voice when it comes to fast-paced pop. Plus this is just a great song in any incarnation, so it was already pre-approved.

This almost got on the list last time, but then I was like, “No self! No! It has PROBLEMS and we will be content with putting it on our performance list!” And then, well, turns out that was actually a gateway drug. Three out of my five Heavenly Angel Choir voices on one song? Yes please. I no longer recognize any problems, not even the fact that it's a Fergie song I have always loathed. Also I'm pretty sure I like the sound of Colfer's part in this more than “I Have Nothing.”

[2011 Flashback: Somewhere out there is an all-female version from Scars on 45 of “Change My Needs.” One day it will be released in proper studio format. And then IT WILL BE MINE.]

116. Scars on 45 - Change My Needs (all-female version)And from the bassinet to the graveside we never walkOf everything I've lost, I miss my mind the most

I just realized this never actually got a number on my list last year. So now we can celebrate it in all its glory! Soft, entrancing, ear-catching music. Embedded above because finding a full-length studio version of the right version is still a pain in the arse.

[LIST EXTRA: 75b. Smash Cast (ft. Katharine McPhee) – Shake It OutBite me, Glee! I love this cover almost as much as the original. Kat McPhee for all the things. ...no literally, this is working the usual “like you more than the original now oops” magic.

In case you haven't guessed, these next ones are all coming from “The Music of Smash,” but I'm not actually reccing it because that CD is a hot mess trainwreck combo of pop covers and select Marilyn musical numbers from only the first half of the season, and we all need to demand better rereleases when there are enough songs to split those into different volumes. Especially since they need separate Hilty and McPhee versions of, like, everything in the musical.]

117. Smash Cast (ft. Katharine McPhee) – Brighter Than The SunWe go together like peanuts and PaydayLike money and reggae

Whoops. Sorry, original! You were semi ear-pleasing on the radio, but it took this soundtrack cover to take me around the bend. Adoring the heck out of the harmonies.

118. Smash Cast – Let Me Be Your StarFade in on a girl with a hunger for fameAnd a face and a name to remember

It has taken a long time for me to like more than the first four lines, but I'm ready to be there now. Defining number of the series, now and forever.

119. Smash Cast (ft. Katherine McPhee) – The 20th Century Fox MamboNow I'm blonde but I ain't so dumbHollywood will be under my thumb

Although sometimes I think is actually closer to the show's signature number. It is just the best number to dance to, with plenty of jazz band support.

Objectively, it's a fairly boring number, but I've got limited soundtrack numbers to work with instead of the full show, and the light, pleasant, simple and piano-based duet keeps bending my ear. It has nice little lyrics, that's its draw.

And back to your hot-trot jazz demonstration, but now with more squealing and a less dramatic angle. Least favorite of the batch, yet still irresistible. p.s. aw, have a whole scene clip version w/ dialogue. I will convert y'all to show fans or DIE TRYING.

August122. Glee Cast (The Warblers) - I Want You BackEvery street you walk onI leave tear stains on the groundReally, I just wanted to flesh out my New Warblers collection. Their voices make me so very happy. Or maybe that's just the Jackson 5 sound.

123. Sia (and no one else) – TitaniumStone-hard, machine gunFiring at the ones who run

First, I refuse to credit people who lack prominent vocals. Second, I found this song after being unable to decipher a single lyric after two listens on the radio, but finding it on the third hit when I started googling random unfamiliar titles from the “top songs” list on said station's website (proof of radio's pathetic lack of diversity). Third, the next time I listened to it I used the official music video (linked above, so...watch out), which is so many levels of weird and unnerving that I can no longer hear any kind of other meaning behind the lyrics, which is a shame, because it seems like it could be a cool song about inner strength. Fourth, this worm refuses to leave my ear, so even though I don't really know if I love it or not, here you go. Glee should cover it. WHO SAID THAT.

Tl;dr: It kinda reminds me of a Florence + The Machine song. That's who I guessed it was at first listen.````````````DISCLAIMER: the next few songs are the absolute cream of the crop from your recs. There are a whole bunch I've enjoyed listening to, but I am trying to steer this list back to songs I have listened to on excessive repeat multiple days in a row. And there's only so many songs I can obsess over at a time unless I've got a physical CD. More may crop up in the future, you never know.

124. The Yeah Yeah Yeahs – MapsWait, they don't love you like I love you

Courtesy of dollsome, I have finally listened to something by them. Instant Song Appeal, also a rarity. “There is just something achingly honest about it.”

125. Birdy – Skinny LoveAnd now all your love is wastedAnd who the hell was I?I'm breaking at the bridgesAnd at the end of all your lines

I have literally no idea what this song is about (probably not anorexia, which is a shame), and have barely even paid attention to the words because in the course of attempting to finally listen to Bon Iver like all the hipsters, this cover was mentioned and as soon as I hit “play” I pretty much went ACKITY FLAIL WHO IS THIS ENCHANTING SONGSTRESS. (edit: it gets even better with the official video) This one is dotty' contrib.

126. Johnny Cash – HurtWhat have I becomeMy sweetest friendEveryone I knowGoes away in the end

Well, there's a name I never thought I'd see on this list. Courtesy of crackers4jenn. I clicked on the link as a result of being told “DON'T WATCH THE VIDEO IT WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO DIE,” which I'm pretty sure is an instrumental part of why this wounds me in the best possible way.

127. (Silent Hill 2 soundtrack) – Promise (Reprise)Suuuuuuper creepy instrumental! Just wish it was longer than 1:45. [edit: now we can pretend it is!] This one's stunt_muppet's winner. She says its last scene accompanies a suicide, which is where the element of sadness comes in. Totally harshin' my buzz. ;)

Fine, Grey's Anatomy may own this title forever while I simultaneously associate it with The O.C. for some reason, but I have finally heard the song attached to the words (it's like the Wonderwall of 2012!). NOW STOP BEING SO CASUALLY CHEERY WHILE YOUR LYRICS DROWN ME IN PAIN.

(update: never mind; for a few minutes I originally wanted a slower cover, but now I'm all on board with the discordant cheer. I like the unassuming acoustic guitar.)

September129. Pink – TryWhen you're out there doing what you're doingAre you just getting by?

It was described as “Who Knew 2.0,” to which I pretty much went OUTTA MY WAY, GOTTA GET IT. It is disappointing in that respect, as Who Knew is my lost-friendship song and I thought they meant sequel, but people also called it “old school Pink,” and it succeeds in that respect. Bonus, the title does not double as a sexual reference.

Oops, looks like I missed a number on the soundtrack. (I was wondering where all the Megan Hilty goodies were) Well, more than one, but this the only one I'm going to allow as a standalone/on repeat number. Poor Jessie J, I keep liking all her songs on the radio but never enough to nominate them on their own power.

I like how I just decided I was going to fall in love with this no matter what. I was tempted to include the original, just because “Imagine Dragons” is the coolest band name ever, but come on. Generic Band vs. my star, no thanks. To be honest, Generic Music From A Band is coming through pretty hard even on this cover, but I have been dying for a new Blaine solo for so long I don't know how else to feel, and this formula worked for “Cough Syrup” eventually so I'm brainwashing myself.

[edit: Success! Now I am full of quiet angst and sadness every time I hear its plinky opening notes.]

No, of course I decided to play this 10 times and totally fall in love with the music before I vetted lyrics and learned it was all about dirty, dirty cheating. Ugh! There were just so FEW tracks not labeled “explicit” on her new CD, and of those, this was the only other one that really grabbed my attention. This reminds me more of some of the music on the Missundazstood album. Which, coincidentally, is the only Pink CD I own.

133. Pink – How Come You're Not HereAre you hiding in the closet?Are you underneath the bed?Did you go for a long walk off a short pier?

Now this one refuses to leave my head thanks to its extra catchy whistle echo on the chorus, and as this one is less exciting but also less lyrically objectionable than the above, it can stay.p.s. Can I just take a moment to laugh at the fact that Vevo finally wised up and started doing their own "official lyric videos"? It's precious. I will even throw them a bone here.

134. Paloma Faith – New YorkHer name was New York, New YorkAnd she took his heart away

In case you missed it yesterday...this seemed like a terribly appropriate Kurt/Blaine theme song for season 4, so I decided to fall in love with it. Easy as pie. It's rather bluesier than I like from my lady singers, but kind of an awesome metaphor in general, to be honest. NYC poisons everyone's mind.~~~~~~~~First Listen Sunday showed up too late for me to decide how in love I was with everything, so any new Glee tracks will just have to wait for the next round. [edit: Except for one.]P.S. I am officially firing the crap Warblers version of "Teenage Dream" from quarter 1 and purging all evidence of it from my brain and music library because GOOD SWEET LORD:

Fireworks are shooting through my ears and exploding all over my brain at how unbelievably gorgeous this is. Are you sure this is still Teenage Dream? Because it in no way sounds like the garbage I associate with all versions of that song, including his live performances. My mind is blown. It's like the song has been dipped in gold and studded with diamonds and set in the sun to sparkle and gleam from every angle. Everything's been stripped out and nothing is left but true-solo vocals and rich supporting piano. I'm decidedly dead now, and what a way to go out.